As anticipation builds for James Gunn’s Superman reboot, star David Corenswet is stepping into one of the most iconic roles in cinematic history. And he knows exactly how big those red boots are to fill. With just weeks left until the film’s release, Corenswet is opening up about his inspirations.
He particularly pointed out how ‘Smallville‘ and Tom Welling shaped his earliest memories of the Man of Steel. While he is about to be DCU’s big-screen Superman, his main influence is Welling’s Man of Steel.
David Corenswet Grew Up Watching Tom Welling’s Superman
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, David Corenswet candidly addressed the many comparisons drawn between himself and Tom Welling. Corenswet acknowledged that he has received “a lot of physical comparisons” to Welling and warmly shared that Welling was his Superman growing up, back when the series aired weekly on television.
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“When I was growing up, he was the Superman who was on TV every week,” Corenswet said. “I think, to one extent or another, all of the Superman actors… There’s some Venn diagram of our physical characteristics, which makes sense for a superhero who is classically the one who doesn’t wear a mask.” There’s something undeniably touching about that reflection.
Corenswet, born in 1993, was just eight years old when ‘Smallville’ premiered in 2001. For many in his generation, Welling wasn’t just another actor in a cape, he was Superman. Now, all these years later, that same eight-year-old kid who watched Smallville is suiting up as Superman himself. It’s a full-circle moment. This sense of legacy extends beyond Superman, too.
Nicholas Hoult, who plays Lex Luthor in the upcoming film, shared a similar sentiment about Welling’s ‘Smallville‘ co-star Michael Rosenbaum. He claimed that Rosenbaum’s Lex was the first and most impactful version he’d ever seen. “You are like the one! I love it, are you kidding? It’s the best!” Hoult told Rosenbaum during an interview on Inside of You.
New ‘Superman’ Might Have The Biggest Budget Yet
With legacy and nostalgia fueling audience excitement, James Gunn’s Superman is clearly being treated with a lot of intrigue. But behind the emotional story and poetic full-circle moments lies a staggering budget. According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, production filings submitted in Ohio revealed the Superman reboot’s budget sits at a jaw-dropping $363.8 million.
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While Gunn previously pushed back against that number, stating the film’s net cost is closer to $225 million after-tax incentives, insiders suggest the original estimate may not be far from the truth. Even more shocking? The marketing budget. Industry sources say Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Studios are likely spending up to $200 million on global promotion. This is far more than the typical blockbuster.
Combined, that could put Superman well into the $400 million club, potentially making it one of the most expensive films in movie history, even surpassing Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’. So, to say the stakes are high is an understatement. The pressure is immense. The legacy of Superman demands excellence. And yet, hearing how personally Corenswet and Hoult connect to the history of their characters gives fans hope. It promises heart, reverence, and a deep understanding of why these characters matter.
